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What most people dont realize is that wealth isnt the same as income. If you make $ 1 million a year and spend $ 1 million, youre not getting wealthier, youre just living high. Wealth is what you accumulate, not what you spend. The most successful accumulators of wealth spend far less than they can afford on houses, cars, vacations and entertainment. Why? Because these things offer little or no return. The wealthy would rather put their money into investments or their businesses. Its an attitude. Millionaires understand that when you buy a luxury house, you buy a luxury life style too. Your property taxes skyrocket, along with the cost of utilities and insurance, and the prices of nearby services, such as grocery stores, tend to be higher. The rich mans attitude can also be seen in his car. Many drive old unpretentious sedans. Sam Walton, billionaire founder of the WalMart Store, Inc., drove a pickup truck. Most millionaires measure success by net worth, not income. Instead of taking their money home, they plow as much as they can into their businesses, stock portfolios and other assets. Why? Because the government doesnt tax wealth; it taxes income you bring home for consumption, the more the government taxes. The person who piles up net worth fastest tends to put every dollar he can into investments, not consumption. All the while, of course, hes reinvesting his earnings from investments and watching his net worth soar. Thats the attitude as well. | 
